Door holding device



`lune 7, 1960 E. L. ALLEN DOOR HOLDING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l 24 fTG- 56.5 24

I l m INVENTOR. bw/N L. ALLEN E. L. ALLEN DOOR HOLDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L. ALLEN Arron/vens memvmk Filed April 3, 1957 June 7, 1960 June 7, 1960 E. L. ALLEN 2,939,166

DOOR HOLDTNG DEVICE Filed April 3, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 7, 96() E. L. ALLEN 2,939,166

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 3, 1957 n l l l l l l l l l l I l l l l I l l l l l l r l l x I l u l l l l INVENTOR.

n A roR/Eys United States Patent O assente noon HoLnrNG DEVICE Edwin L. Alien, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lisle W. Menzimer, trustee, Rockford, Iii.

Filed Apr. s, 1957, ser. No. 650,480

ze claims. (ci. :i6-s2) This invention relates to holding devices for preventing undesired movement between two relatively movable parts, but which will also permit a relatively free movement between the parts whenever such a free relative movement is desired. The invention is applicable to a variety of uses but is especially useful in controlling the movement of a vehicle door and is, therefore, disclosed herein as applied to such a door but without any intention of limiting the invention solely to that use.

A conventional automobile door has the annoying tendency, under certain conditions, to swing shut when the user desires that the door stay open. This tendency may be produced by any of various causes, such as by an inclination of the axis of the door hinge necessitated by the design of the vehicle body, by the transverse curvature or crown of a pavement or road, by the slope of a hill or by a gust of wind. The holding device of the present invention eifectively prevents this annoyingV tendency.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a holding device of a simple and practical form which will effectively hold a movable member in any given position to which it is moved, and which will also permit a relatively free movement of the member from such given position Whenever such free movement is desired. When the movable member is a door or the like, the given position can be its fully open position or any intermediate open position to which it is movable.

Another object is to provide a holding device for a vehicle door, or the like, comprising a thrust transmitting member or arm and a clamping unit relatively free on the arm but adapted to produce a releasable clamping action thereon at any point therealong, and in which the development of any desired degree of holding power is readily obtainable such that the automobile designer is at liberty to incline the hinge axis in any direction or at any angle he chooses for obtaining a desired body styling without being concerned about any tendency for the door to fall shut.

A further object is to provide a novel holding device of the kind above indicated in which a releasable clamping means continuously in contact with the arm automatically clamps the latter for holding the door in any open position to which it has been moved, and in which a closing movement imparted to the door automatically causes the clamping means to release the arm.

Still another object is to provide a holding device of the character above referred to in which the clamping unit comprises a clamping means adapted to grip the arm upon movement of an actuating means toward a deadcenter position and to release the arm upon movement of the actuating means beyond or away from the deadcenter position.

Another object is to provide such a holding device l in which the clamping unit comprises a body located on one of a pair of relatively movable structures and having a passage through which the arm extends, and in which "ice the actuating means for the clamping means comprises a member pivotally connected with the body.

As still another object, this invention provides such a holding device for use between swingably connected door and door frame structures in which the clamping unit is located between spaced wall portions of the door structure and is shiftable along the arm in opposite directions by the thrust of such wall portions, and in which the pivotally connected actuating member is preferably a cam member and is swingable by the thrust of one of the wall portions thereagainst to cause movement of a clamping portion of the actuating member toward a dead-center position for clamping the arm and to cause further movement of the clamping portion through and beyond the dead-center position for releasing the arm.

As a further object this invention provides such a holding device in which the body of the clamping unit is tiltable relative to the arm, and in which the swinging of the actuating member for causing a clamping means to clamp the arm is produced in part by a swinging of the actuating member relative to the body and in part by a tilting ofthe body relative to the arm.

It is likewise an object of this invention to provide such a holding device in which spring means is eiective on the actuating member to resist swinging thereof during movement of the clamping portion toward the dead-center position, and in which an arm-releasing movement of the clamping portion away from the dead-center position is assisted by the spring means during swinging of the actuating member to a tripped position. A

Additionally, this invention provides such a holding device in which means on the arm .cooperates with the actuating member to automatically return the latter from its tripped position to an eiective or ready position, in response to the next subsequent opening movement of the door structure. l

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which- Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of an automobile showing an embodiment of the present invention in an installed position thereon and applied to one of the doors of the automobile.

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of an automobile showing an embodiment of the present invention in an installed position thereon and applied to one of the doors of the automobile.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, on a larger scale, taken through a portion of the automobile adjacent the installed position of the holding device as indicated by the section line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and with the door shown in its closed position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section similar to that of Fig. 2

but showing the door being held in an open position by v the holding device.

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse vertical section taken through the door holding device as indicated by section line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and showing the condition of the d evice while the door is being held thereby.

Fig. 5 is a partial transverse vertical section similar Vto that of Fig. 4 but taken on section line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and showing the condition of the device when the door is in its closed position.

Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are horizontal sections similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating `different operative positions'ot the clamping unit and arm corresponding with different positions of the door structure; Fig. 6 showing the condition of the clamping unit during opening of the door; Fig. 7 showing the condition when the operators hand has just been removed from the opened door and the dooris --being held open by the clamping unit; Fig. 8 showing the condition when the door has just started a forced movement toward its closed position but prior to the swinging ofthe actuating member of the clamping unit-to its tripped position; and Fig. 9' showing the condition when theidoor .lisffully closed and the actuating member ofthe clampin unitis in its tripped position.

Fig. lOis a fragmentary sectional detail View taken on section line 10-10 of Pig. 2.

Pig. 1l is a plan view of the actuating member in deftached relation.

Fig. .l2 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 2 but :showing a modified form of this door holding device, the .door being in its closed position. i j

,.fliig.l 13 is "a horizontal section showing the modified door holding .device with the door being held thereby :in an open position; and v IFig. 14 is afragmentar'y .sectional .detail view taken on -sectionline 14j-14 of Fig. 13.` As one'practicalembodiment of the present invention, 'Fig's. l -to `l1 inclusive ofthe drawings show a com- VVbined door holding and door check device applied :tofan automobile body'11 for controlling the movement o`f ya door 12 thereof. The door holding device 10 comprises in general a thrust arm .13, and a clamping unit l4which lcooperates with the arm and is clampingly eec- -tive' thereon for preventing relative movement between 7^the Ystructures orparts with which the clamping device is vbeing used.

The automobile body 11 is here shown as being of a conventional type which includes a door frame structure 15 on which the door 12 is mounted for lateral swinging movement by means of suitable hinges 16. vThe door iframe structure A15V includes an upright end wall 17 to v'which one of the cooperating parts of the door holding device 10 is attached, in thisinstance the arm 13, by -means o f a bracket 18 in which one end of the arm is swingably secured by a pivot pin 19.

The door 12 is a hollow structure having an end wall A20 jand a'space or chamber2l therein inwardly ofsuch -end wall.V The other of the Vcooperating parts of the door holding device 10, in this instance the clamping unit 14, is associated with the door 12 and is housed in the chamber 21 thereof. The door 12 is provided with Vspaced-apart wall portions 22 and 23 internally thereof and the clamping unit 14Yis located inthe intervening space 24 between such wall portions. The wall portion YV22 can be provided by a reinforcement usually present in a door of the type shown, and the wall portion 23 can be kprovided as a part of ahollow bracket 25 located on the rear side of the reinforcement and having Vflanges ,25a suitably Vsecured to the latter. As will be explained lin greater detail hereinafter, the clamping unit 14 Vis Yshiftable along the arm 13 by thrust supplied to the clampingunit by the spaced wall portions 22 and 23 during opening and closing movements of the door A12. The spaced wall portion 22 and 23 are provided with suit- .able openings 26 and `27 to accommodate the arm 13, and the end wall 20 is provided with an opening 28 for the same purpose.

Theclamping unit 14 comprises a body 29 having a passage 30 extending therethrough between cooperating clamping and abutment elements 31 and 32, and a swingy able actuating member or cam 33 for rendering the clamping element 31 effective on the arm 13. The body 29 can be of any appropriate form of construction and is here shown as comprising a pairof substantially paral-V lel links or plates 29a and 29b n a spaced-apart relation to provide the passage 30 therebetween, and a connectillgmeans for the plates which is here shown as being in the form of a transverse pin 35. The abutment elesuch that its opposite ends project outwardly beyond `the plates for'a purpose to be explainedihereinafter. The projecting end portions of the connecting pin 35 are provided with circumferential grooves 36 extending therearound. As shown in the drawings, the body 29 is elongated in a direction transversely of the arm 13 and the connecting pin 35 is located so as to extend through the plates 29a and 29b at a point adjacent one end of the body.

The actuating member 33 lis located between the plates 29a and 29b and is swingably connected with the body 29 by a pivot pin 37. The intermediate portion of the pin 37 forms the pivot on which the actuating member 33 is swingable-and the opposite ends of this pin project from opposite sides of the actuating member and are operable in a pair of inclined pivot slots 38 provided in the plates 29a and 29b. As will appear hereinafter, the pivotV pin 37 is shiftable in the slots 38 and accordingly'the Vpivotrmeans provided by these cooperating lpin `and slot elements can be referred to asa floating pivot -means. The opposite ends of the pivot pin 37projeet through and beyond the plates 29a and 29b and have circumferential grooves 39 formed therein so as to lie substantially opposite` the circumferential grooves 36 of the -connecting pin `35. Y

The clamping element 31 is preferably formed as lan (integral projection of the actuating member 33 and is of a tapered` or wedge-like shape having substantially'at side edges 40 which converge in a direction away from the pivot pin 37 at an included angle of approximately 90 degrees. The clamping element 31 has an apex 41 in engagement with a side edge 42 of the arm 13. The actuating member 33 also comprises a convex Yarcuate cam portion 43 which is engageable by and rockable against the wall portion 23 of the door 12. The'clamping element 31 and the cam portion 43 are formedon the actuating member 33 so as to be disposed inan angular Yrelation such that the actuating member resembles a'bell-crank lever in shape.

The opposite side edge 44 of the arm -13 is engageable with the abutment element 32 and, when swinging of the actuating member takes place in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow -45 of lFig. 6, the clamping ele- 'ment 31 will be-moved toward a dead-center position represented by the center line 46 and will assume the clamping or door-holding position of Fig. 7 in which the arm 13 `willbe powerfully clamped between the clamp- Ying Velement and abutment. This clamping of the arm temporarily connects the clamping unit 14 with thev arm thus enabling the clamping unit to resist the thrust of the Vwall portion 23 and to holdthe door 12 in its open v leased. A continued or final clockwise swinging of the Yactuating member 33 ultimately causes this member to assume 'a tripped positionsimilartorthat shown in Fig.Y 9 in which the apex of the clamping element 31 lies substantiallyfto the left of the dead-center line 46 and the Y clamping action on the arm 13 isthen fully released.

When the actuating Ymember is in its tripped position, one ofthe flatedges 40 of the clamping element 31 will lieradjacentto or against the side edge 42 of the arm 13 and the clamping unit 14 will then be readily shiftable v along the arm.

The clamping unit 14 also comprises al-spring means `^eflectiveon the actuating member 33 and which is here shown yas being in the form of oneor more substantially C-shaped springs 4S, inY this rinstance two suchsprings, `.located onopposite sides ,ofthe unit and lyingadjacent the outer faces of the plates 29a and 29h. The C-shaped springs 48 have hook shaped ends 49 and 50 which are engaged in the grooves 36 and 39 of the connecting and pivot pins 35 and 37. The springs 48 continuously exert a compressive force against the remote sides of the pins 35 and 37, such that they resist the clockwise swinging movement of the actuating member 33 while the clamping element 31 is being moved toward its dead-center position, and assist the clockwise swinging movement of the actuating member and the releasing movement of the clamping element 31 when the latter has been moved beyond its dead-center position.

The springs 48 preferably also form a part of the connecting means which retains the components of the clamping unit 14 in their assembled relation. In the accomplishment of this purpose, the grooves 36 and 39 rof the pins 35 and 37 provide a locating means for the :springs 48 by which the latter are positioned immediately .adjacent the plates 29a and 29b. This location for the vsprings and their engagement in the grooves 36 and 39 .enables the springs to maintain the side plates 29a and 29h, the pins 35 and 37, and the actuating member 33 ,in their assembled relation shown in the drawings.

ri'he spacing and location of the clamping element 31 Yrelative to the abutment element 32 is such, in relation nto the width of the arm 13, that the body 29 of the clamping unit 1'4 will be tiltable relative to the arm tothe diierent positions shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. The swinging of the actuating member 33, by which the clamping element 31 is rendered clampingly eiective on the arm 13 and is moved toward and through its dead-center position, is produced in part by such tilting of the body 29 and in part by a swinging of the actuating member relative to the body and about the axis of the pivot pin 37.

The arm 13 is normally urged away from the abutment element 32 and toward and against the clamping element 31 by a second spring means embodied in the 4clamping unit 14 and preferably associated with the abutment element.

This second spring means is here shown as comprising a pair of convex bevel-type spring Washers :52 disposed around the connecting pin 35 and located -with their convex sides in a back-to-back relation in the :space between the plates 29a and 29h. The spring Washers 52 are flexible in character, such that when fthe arm 13 is moved toward and against the abutment yelement 32 by the swinging action of the clamping eleiment 31, the side edge 44 of the arm will move inwardly Vftheir normal shape causes them to exert a squeezing and pushing action on the edge 44 to thereby shift the arm :to a position in spaced relation to the abutment element 'The bowed intermediate portion of the C-shaped springs :48 provides a convexley curved contact portion 54 on :the clamping unit 14 on the side thereof facing the wall portion 22 of the door 12. The contact portion 54 is engageable by and rockable against the wall portion 22 when movement of the door 12 is taking place in an opening direction to transmit thrust to the clamping unit 14 through this contact portion.

Swinging of the actuating member 33 relative to the body 29 is controlled by a suitable stop means which is here shown as comprising a hollow stop pin 55 mounted in the actuating member and having its end portions proiecting therefrom and operable in limit slots 56 provided in the plates 29a and 29h. When the actuating member 33 is in one of its extreme positions in which the clamping action of the clamping element 31 is released, the stop pin 55 is in engagement with one end of the limiting slots 56 as shown in Fig. 6 and when the actuating member is in the other of its extreme positions with the clamping element in a released position on the opposite side 6 of the dead-center line 46, the stop pin is in engagement with the other end of the limit slots 56 as shown in Fig. 9.

The operation of the holding device 10 is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive of the drawings and will now be described in connection with these views. Fig. 6 shows the clamping unit 14 in its released condition and being shifted along the arm 13 in response to a manual opening movement of the vehicle door 12. At this time, the opening movement of the door is causing the wall portion 22 to apply thrust to the clamping unit 14 through the contact means 54 as indicated by the arrow 57. The clamping element 31 is continuously in engagement with the edge 42 of the arm 13 but during the opening movement of the door is exerting substantially no clamping force thereagainst. At this time, the end portion 43a of the cam surface 43 of the actuating member 33 is 1ocated adjacent to or against the wall portion 23 and will continue to follow the latter during'the entire opening movement of the door.

When the opening movement of the vehicle door 12 stops, such as when the operators hand is removed therefrom the door will, because of its normally overbalanced condition, tend to swing toward its closed position. This tendency of the door to fall shut causes the wall portion 23 thereof to apply a Vswinging force to the clamping unit 14 through the actuating member 33. This swinging movement irst causes a tilting of the body 29 from the inclined position thereof shown in Fig. 6 to the substantially upright full-line position shown in Fig. 7. While the body 29 is being thus swung to its upright tilted position of Fig. 7, the actuating member 33 is also being swung about the axis of the pivot pin 37 and relative to the body 29. During this swinging of the actuating member 33 relative to the body unit 29, the pivot pin 37 is shifted along the pivot slots 38 due to the thrust reaction of the clamping element 31 against the arm 13 but such shifting of the pivot pin in the pivot slots is resisted by the springs 48.

The result of these combined swinging movements imparted to the actuating member 33 is to cause the clamping element 31 to be moved toward the dead-center axis line 46 to thereupon apply the above-mentioned strong clamping force to the arm 13. While this clamping force is being applied, the arm is gripped between the clamping element 31 and the abutment element 32 to thereby temporarily connect the clamping unit 14 with the arm. Any greater tendency for the vehicle door 12 to move toward its closed position, that is any tendency greater than the normal fall-shut tendency of the door, will cause the clamping element 31 to apply a greater clamping force to the arm thus making the clamping unit 14 still more eifective in holding the door in its open position.

The open position in which the door is being held in Fig. 7, as just described above, is an intermediate open position. The door can be readily swung by the operator in an opening direction from this intermediate position, to the fully-open broken-line position 12b shown in Fig. 3. During this further opening movement of the door, the wall portion 23 will move in a direction away from the clamping unit 14 to permit the actuating member 33 to swing in a counterclockwise direction for relieving the clamping action of the clamping element 31 on the arm 13. This further opening movement of the door will also cause the wall portion 22 to reengage the contact portion 54 and shift the clamping unit 14 farther along the arm 13. When this further opening movement of the door is stopped, the tendency for the door to fall shut will cause the wall portion 23 to again produce a clockwise swinging of the actuating member 33 to cause a clamping action on the arm 13.

lf the operator wishes to swing the door to or toward a closed position, he applies a closing force to the door of a suflicient magnitude to cause the actuating member 33 to youd ;itsdead-.center position on` theaxis'V line 146." Fig..- 8

'ofthe drawings shows the beginning of such a closing movementof theY door 12 and illustrates the condition the dead-center line 46. The pulling action ofthe springs A 48 on the pivot pin 37 will then assist or produce further clockwise movement of the actuating member .33 whereby this memberwill assume a tripped position in which the clamping element 31 has released the arm 13. When fthe actuatingV member 33 has been thus moved to its Ytripped position, the clamping unit 14 will be readily shift- .able along the arm 13 by the thrust of Ithe wall portion 23 and the door .12 will swing to its closed position with *little or no resistance to its movement.

In the functioning of the door holding device 10, it is 'desirable that the actuating member 33 be restored from ,its stripped position to its initial or active positionfso that it will again be ready for a door-holding actuation of the clamping element-31 during the next succeeding opening movement of the door. For this purpose, the arm 13 is provided with a control notch or recess 60 in the edge 42 thereof and which is located longitudinally of the arm 'such that the clamping element 31 will be engagcable 'therein when the door arrives at its fully closed position,

and which engagement is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The notch 60 is of a size and shape to readily receive the clamping element 31 and is provided at one end thereof with a shoulder 61 which will be yengaged by the clamping element during the next succeeding opening movement of the door. The engagementof the clamping element 31 with the shoulder 61 during such opening movement, will cause the clamping element to tempo rarily remain relatively stationary on the -arm until the wall portion 22 cornes into engagement with the contact portion 54 and swings the clamping unit 14 in a counterfclockwise direction, to thereby return the actuating member A33 from its tripped position of Fig. 9 to its initial released position shown in Fig. 6 and also causing the body 29 to assume the inclined initial position thereof rshown in Fig. 6.

When the door 12 arrives at its full open position 12b, its opening movement is checked by a stop 62 provided on the arm 13 and which is here shown in the form of a disk clamped on the arm adjacent its free end. The stop 62 is engagcable by the wall portion 23 for checking the l opening movement of the door and, if desired, a yieldable bumper in the form of a washer 63 made of nlbber or other iexible material can be mounted onthe wall portion 23'for cushioning engagement with the stop.Y

The arm 13 andthe actuating member 33 are prefen ably hardened `to an extent to enable them to resist scufng and wear during the functioning of the holding device 10.

Figs. l2 and 13 of the drawings show a combined check and door holding device 65 which is of a construction similar to that of the door holding device and functions in a similar manner, and Whose corresponding parts have been designated by the same reference characters. One diierence between the door holding device 65 and the device 10 is that the body 29 of the clamping unit 14 thereof is provided with a combined stop and guide element 66 in an adjacently spaced relation to the abutment element 32 and engagcable with the same side of the arm 13 as that which is engaged by the abutment element, namely, the side edge 44.

'The combined stop andV guide element is here shown as comprising a pin 67 mounted in the side plates of the bodyl 29 so as to extend across the intervening space therebetween.- An -enlarged stern portion or roller element provided on the pin 67 forms the stop and guide element Y6,6,and is located at Yan intermediate point thereof so as to `"lie substantially oppositee the clamping elementV 31 -and Ulocated on the frontvside of the reinforcement.

A8 be engageablebygthe side fedgeg44 -of the arm-13-,asshown` in `vFig.Y 14. The lelement-i66 limits the extentlofY swinglingmovement ofthe body 29 relative to the arm and also acts as a guide means or v`steady rest which electively prevents chattering Ybetween the arm and the clamping 'unit 14 -during shifting of the latter along the arm.v The element 66 can be a hardened rollerrotatable on -thepin -67 or,.ifY desired, the element 66 can be-an enflargement on va hardened pin whichis rotatable in the side -plates 29a and 29h. Y

In the modified door holdingdevice 65, rthe side plates 29a and 29h of the body -29 are shown as being relatively wider than lthe corresponding plates of the door holding device 10, such thatthe convexly curved contact portion y54m of'the'device 65 is on these side'platesrrather than :on the springs 48.

The installed relation of the door holding device65 in `|the vvehicle door 12m is-vsomewhat different from that of vthe `holding device 10, inasmuch as the geometrical characteristics of the door 12m are different and the position occupied by the holding device 65 is a substantially reversed position. In the door 12m, the door reinforcement provides the wall portion 723m and the wall portion 22m is providedby the bracket 25m which, in this case, is The wall portion 22m has a relatively inclined contact portion 22a whose position and spacing relative to the wall portion 23m are such that it is always relatively close to the contact portion 54m of the clamping unit 14 and will engagethe latter with very little relative movement or lost motion occurring between the door and the clamping unit. The wall portion 23m is preferably formed with an oiset 68 therein such that this wall provides a contact portion 69 which is engageable with the cam portion 43 of the actuating member 33 and a contact portion 70 which is engagcable with the body 29.

In the operation of the modified holding device 65, an

opening movement of thedoor 12m from its closed position of Fig. 12 will cause the contact portion 22a thereof to engage and push against the contact portion 54m of the unit 14 to thereby shift the latter along the arm 13 in a direction toward the stop 62. During the initial portion of this movement of lthe unit 14, the contact portion 69 of the door will tend to move away from the cam portion 43 but, at this time, the actuating member 33 is befing swung by the coaction of the clamping element 31 '.with the shoulder 61 of the arm recess to cause the cam portion-to follow the contact portion 69. When the door opening movement ceases and the door tends to fall shut, the contact portion 69 pushes against the cam portion 43 to cause swinging of the actuating member and a consequent gripping of the arm 13 bythe clamping element 31 Y inV any desired open position to which it is moved, such that the operator can get in or out of the vehicle without the annoyance of manually holding the door to maintain the same open or to prevent the same from closing against his legs. It will now also be seen that this novel door ,holding device employs a clamping unit which is relatively free Von a thrust arm and is readily shiftable therealong by the movements of the door, but which will automatically clamp the arm for holding the door in the desired open position and will automatically release the arm to per- 'mitclosing of the door in response rotan initial manual .closing movement impartedl to the door..

Although the devices of this invention have been illustrated arid described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood of course that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes or modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: p

l. A holding device for use between two relatively movable structures comprising; an arm adapted for connection with one of said structures; a body adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and having a passagethrough which said arm extends; said body and the associated structure having a limited relative movement therebetween during at least a portion of the relative movement between said structures; a clamping means adapted to clamp said arm and including a member pivotally connected with said body and movable toward and beyond a dead-center position in response to said relative movement; said body and said clamping means being supported by said arm and relatively shiftable therealong and said arm being of a length to extend through said passage for all operative relative positions between said structures; and spring means elective on said member and tending to move the same away from said dead- Center position; the pivotal movement of said member being in response to the occurrance of said limited relative movement and eiective to cause said clamping means to automatically clamp said arm by the movement of said member toward said dead-center position and to automatically release said arm by the movement of said member beyond said dead-center position. l

2. A holding device as dened in claim l in which said clamping means comprises an abutment means on said body and engaging one side of said arm, and a clamping portion on said member for clamping action against the other side of said arm during movement of said member toward said dead-center position.

3. A holding device for use between swingably connected support and closure structures and one of which structures has spaced wall portions thereon; comprising a body adapted to be located in the space between said wall portions; an arm extending transversely of said body and adapted for connection with the other of said structures; clamping means including a swingable member mounted on said body and having a clamping portion engaging said arm; said body being relatively shiftable along said arm by said wall portions in response to relative swinging between said structures; said member being swingable to clamping and releasing positions to cause said Vclamping means to clamp or release said arm; said member being engageable and swingable to said clamping position by one of said wall portions in response to relative shifting of said body and arm during a predetermined relative swinging between said structures; and spring means effective on said member and tending to swing the same toward said releasing posit-ion.

4. A holding device as defined in claim 3 in which said clamping portion is a wedge-shaped projection on said swingable member.

5; A holding device as defined in claim 3 in which said clamping portion is a projection on said member and said arm has a recess therein of a size to admit said projection; said projection being movable into said recess when said closure structure approaches its closed position.

6. A holding device for use between swngably connected support and closure structures and one of which structures has spaced wall portions thereon; comprising a body adapted to be located in the space between said wall portions; an arm extending transversely of said body and adapted for connection with the other of said structures; a swingable actuating member pivotally connected with said` body; clamping means carried by said body and engaging said arm; said body being shiftable along said arm in opposite directions inresponse to closing and opening Swinging movements of the closure structure; said member being swingable to clamping and releasing positions for causing said clamping means to clamp or release` said arm; said member having a cam portion engageable by and rockable against one of said wall portions for causing swinging of said member to said clamping position in response to a predetermined relative swinging between said structures; and spring means eiectve between said body and member and urging the latter toward said releasing position. Y

7. A holding device for use Ibetween swingably connected structures one of which has spaced-'apart wall portions thereon; comprising a clamping unit on said one structure and disposed between said wall portions; and an arm adapted for connection with the other of said structures; said clamping unit having a passage through which said arm extends and lbeing free on said arm and relatively shiftable therealong in opposite directions by said wall portions in response to relative swinging between said structures; said clamping unit comprising a body containing said passage and having an abutment means at one side of said passage and engaging one side of said arm, and a member pivotally connected with said body and having a clamping por-tion at the other side of said passage and engaging the opposite side of said arrn;; said body having a limited swinging movement about said; abutment means as a center and relative to said arm, anda said member being swingable relative to said body andi having a contact portion projecting from said body and',

engaged by one of said wall portions; said clamping por-- tion being rendered clampingly effective on said arm ini response to a combined swinging of said body relative: to said arm and of said member relative to said body, by: thrust of said one wall portion against said contact portion of said member.

8. A holding device yas defined in claim 7 in which said clamping portion is a wedge-shaped lug projection on said member and is movable' toward a dead-center position in! response to said combined swinging for clamping saidl arm and is movable away from said dead-center positiom for releasing said arm.

p 9. A holding device as defined in claim 7 in which said contact portion of said member is an arcuate camportion rockable against said one wall portion.

`10. In a holding device for use between swingably connected structures, one of which has spaced-apart wall portions thereon; a body adapted to be located in the space between said wall portions; an arm extending transversely of said body and adapted for connection with the other of said structures; said body being shiftable in opposite directions along said arm by thrust supplied by said wall portions in response to relative swinging in opposite directions between said structures; an abutment engageable by one side of said arm; a member having a clamping portion engaging the other side of said arm; means forming a floating pivot connection between said body and member and providing for swinging of said member relative to said body for movement of said clamping portion to and from a clamping position against said arm; spring means eiective on said member and opposing; the movement of said clamping portion to said clamping:

position; and a contact portion on said member and'` engageable by one of said wall portions; said member being swingable by thrust applied thereto by said one wall portion through said contact portion for moving said clamping portion to its clamping position.

ll. In a holding device for use between swingably connected structures, one of which has spaced-apart wall g portions thereon; a body adapted to be located in the space between said wall portions; an arm extending transversely of said body and adapted for connection with the. other of said structures; said body being shiftable in opposite directions along said arm by thrust supplied by said wall portions in response to relative swinging in opposite directions between said structures; an abutment means engaging one `side of said arm; a member having a clampa` oating pivot connection between said body and member and providing for swinging of said member relative to said body for movement of said clamping portion to and from a clamping position against said arm; a cam portion on -said member and having rockable contact with one of said wall portions; said member being swingable by thrust applied thereto by said one wall portion through said cam portion for moving said clamping portion to its clamping position; spring means connected between -said body and member and elective on the latter through said iloating pivot connection and tending to swing said member in the ydirection to cause said clamping portion to release said arm; and stop means comprising cooperating pin and slot elements effective between said body and member for limiting the'relative swinging of the latter.

12. ln a holding device for use between swingably connected structures, one of which has spaced-apart wallv portions thereon; a body adaptedfto be located in the space bet-Ween said wall portion; an arm extending transversely of said body and adapted for connection with the other of said structures; said body being shiftable in opposite directions along said arm by thrust supplied by said wall portions in response to relative swinging in opposite directions between said structures; an abutment means engaging one side of said arm; a member having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging the other side of said arm; pivot means connecting said member with said body and providing for swinging of `said member in a given direction for movement of `said clamping portion to a clamping position against said arm and for further swinging of'said member inthe same ldirection to a tripped position for causing said clamping-portion to release said arm; said member being swingable in said given direction by thrust applied thereto -by one of-.said wall portions; and spring means effective on said member to resist the movement of said clamping portion to said clamping position and to assist the' movement of said member to s aid trippedposition.

e 13. In a holding device for use between swingably connected structures, one 'of'whichhas spaced-apart wall portions thereon; a body4 adapted to be located in the space between said-wall portions andl havingy a'passage therethrough; an arm extending throughv said passage and adapted for connectionpwiththe otherl ofsaid structures; said body 4being-shiftable in'opposite directions along said arm by thrust supplied' by said'wall portions in response toY relative swinging in opposite directions between said structures; an abutment means engaging onefside of said arm; a-memberhaving a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means'and engaging the otherY side of said arm; means forming aY oatingrpivot connection between said body yand member and providing for swinging of said member relative to said body; said member being swingable in a given direction for movement of said clamping portion to a clampingposition against said arm and for further movement ofA said member to a tripped position to cause said clamping portion to-release said arm; a cam portion on said memberl and having rockable contact with one of said wall portions; said-member being-swingable in said given directionby thnxst applied thereto by said one wallV portion through said cam portion; spring means connected between said body and member and effective on the latter through said floating pivot connection to resist swinging of s aid member for causing said clamping-portion toclamp said armV and to subsequently assist swinging-ofV-said memberA the latter; said body having limited tilting movement rela-V tive tosaidrm inrespnase .tg thrust transrrtted tasaid .body by said member through'said'pivot connection and Y said structures;;anarm'adapted for connectionwith the.V "other of' said structures and extending transversely of stop means; the movement of said clamping portion to lits clamping .position being produced in part by such tilting 'movement of said body.

' 14. In a holding device for use between adoorframe structure and aself-closing door structure swingably connected therewith for movement to open and closed positions; a body adapted to be located on one'ofsaid structures; an arm extending transversely of said body and adapted for connection with theother of said structures; abutment means adjacent said arm and engageable by one side thereof; ak cam member actuatable by swinging of said door structure and having a clamping portion engaging the other side of said arm; pivot means swingably connecting said cam member with Isaid body; said body being relatively shiftable in opposite directions along said arm by swinging of said closure structure toward said openY and closed positions; said clamping portion being movable toward a dead-center position for clamping said arm in response to swinging of lsaid cam member'in a given directionY by a self-closingV movement of said door structure and being movable beyond said deadcenter position for releasing said arm in response to further swinging'of said cam member in said given direction to a tripped position by a manual kclosing movement of ysaid door structure; and spring means effective on saidr cam member to resist the'movement of said clamping position toward said dead-center position and-to assist the swinging of said cam member toward said tripped position. Y

15. In a holdingv device for use between swingably connected structures; a body on one of said structures comprising a pair of plates and having a passage therethrough between said plates; an arm extending through said passage and adapted for connection with the other of said structures; connecting pin means connecting said plates and projecting from said body; abutment means on one side of said passage for engagement by said army and, formed at least in part by said connecting pin means; a member disposed between said plates and having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging said arm; pivot pin means swingably connecting said member with said body and projecting from the latter; said body being engageable and shiftable along said arm by said one structure in response to rela- Asaid plates and said, pin means in a connected relation.

17. A holding device as defined in claim 15 in which said spring means comprises a pair ofspringslying alongside said body on opposite sides thereof, and in which said springs retain said plates and said pin means in a connected relation.

Y1'8. A holding device as defined in claim l5 in which the projectingV portions of said pin means have grooves thereon, and in which said spring means comprises a substantially C-shaped spring lying alongside said bodyv and having hook ends engaging in the grooves of said pin means.

19. A holding device as dened in claim l5 in which said plates have slots therein and in which said pivot pin means comprises a pivot pin carried by said member and having a iloating movement in said slots.

20. In a holding device for use between two hollow structures comprising a .doorframe and a door connected therewith for swingingto open and closed positions; a"

body adapted to be associated with and located in one of' said body; said body being relatively shiftable along said arm; said body being engageable with its associated structure for causing relative shifting of said body along said arm in response to swinging of said door; abutment means at one side of said arm and engageable thereby; an actuating member having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging `said arm; and pivot means swingably connecting said actuating member with said body; said actuating member being engageable with said associated structure and swingable thereby to a plurality of positions in response to swinging of said door for actuation of said clamping portion for causing the latter to clamp or release said arm including an active position and a tripped position; said arm having a recess located therein to receive said clamping portion when said door swings to its closed position.

21. In a holding device for use between two structures comprising a doorframe and a door connected therewith for swinging to open and closed positions; a body adapted to be located on one of said structures; an arm adapted for connection with the other of said structures and extending transversely of Said body; said body being engageable with said one structure and relatively shiftable thereby along said arm in response to swinging of said door; abutment means at one side of said arm and engageable thereby; an actuating member having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging said arm; pivot means swingably connecting said actuating member with said body; said actuating member being engageable with said one structure and swingable thereby to a plurality of positions in response to swinging of said door for actuation of said clamping portion for causing the latter to clamp or release said arm including an active position and a tripped position; said arm having a recess located therein to receive said clamping portion when said door swings to its closed position; and shoulder means on said arm adjacent said recess; said shoulder means being engageable by said clamping portion to cause swinging of said actuating member from said tripped position to said active position during opening movement of said door.

22. In a holding device for use between a doorframe and a hollow door connected therewith for swinging to open and closed positions; a. -body adapted to be located in said door and having a passage therethrough; an arm adapted for connection with said door frame and extending through said passage; said body being engageable with said door and shiftable thereby along said arm in response to swinging of said door; abutment means on one side of said arm and engageable thereby; an actuating member having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging said arm; pivot means swingably connecting said actuating member with said body; said actuating member being engageable with said door and swingable thereby to a plurality of positions in response to swinging of said door for actuation of said clamping portion toward and beyond a dead-center position for causing said clamping portion to clamp or release said arm including an active position with said clamping portion located on one side of said dead-center position and a tripped position with said clamping portion located on the other side of said dead-center position; and spring means effective on said actuating member to oppose swinging thereof during movement of said clamping portion toward said dead-center position and to assist the swinging of said actuating member to said tripped position during movement of said clamping portion away from said dead-center position.

23. In a holding device for use between a doorframe and a hollow door connected therewith `for swinging to open and closed positions; a body adapted to be located in said door and having a passage therethrough; an arm adapted for connection with said doorframe and extending through said passage; said body being engageable with said door and shiftable thereby along said arm in response to swinging of said door; abutment means on one side of said arm and engageable thereby; an actuating member having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging said arm; pivot means swingably connecting said lactuating member with said body; said actuating member being engageable' with said door and swingable thereby to a plurality of positions in response to swinging of said door for actuation of said clamping portion toward and beyond a deadcenter position for causing said clamping portion to clamp or release said arm including an active position with said clamping portion located on one side of said dead-center position 4and a tripped position with said clamping portion located on the other side of said dead-center position; spring means eiective on said actuating member to oppose swinging thereof during movement of said clamping portion toward said dead-center position and to assist the swinging of said actuating member to said tripped position during movement of said clamping portion away from said dead-center position; said arm having a recess therein located to receive said clamping portion when said door swings to its closed position; and shoulder means on said arm adjacent said recess and engageable by said clamping portion to cause swinging of said actuating member from said tripped position to said active position during opening movement of said door.

24. A holding device for use between swingably con-1 nected structures one of which has spaced-apart wall portions thereon; comprising a clamping unit on said one structure and disposed between said wall portions; an arm adpated for connection with the other of said structures; said clamping unit having a passage through which said arm extends `and being free on said :arm and relatively shiftable therealong in opposite directions by said wall portions in response to relative swinging between said structures; said clamping unit comprising a body containing said passage and having an abutment means at one side of said passage and engaging one side of said arm, and a member pivotally connected with said body and having a clamping portion at the other side of said passage and engaging 'the opposite side of said arm; said body having a limited swinging movement about said abutment means as a center and relative to said arm, and said member being swingable relative to said body and having a contact portion projecting from said body and engaged by one of said wall portions; said clamping portion being rendered clampingly effective on said arm in response to a combined swinging of said body relative to said arm and of said member relative to said body, by thrust of said one wall portion against said contact portion of said member; and guide means carried by said body and located in la spaced relation to said abutment means and being engageable with said one side of said arm.

25. A holding device as dened in claim 24 wherein said guide means comprises a roller engageable with said one side of said arm.

26. In a holding device for use between swingably connected structures, one of which has spaced-apart wall portions thereon; a body adapted to be located in the space between said wall portions; an arm extending transversely of said lbody and adapted for connection with the other of said structures; said arm having smooth and at longitudinal side surfaces extending along opposite sides thereof; said body being shiftable in opposite directions along said arm by thrust supplied by said wall portions in response to relative swinging in opposite directions between said structures; an abutment means engaging one side surface of said arm; a member having a clamping portion substantially opposite said abutment means and engaging the other side surface of said arm; pivot means connecting said member with said body and providing for swinging of said member in a given direction for movement of said clamping portion to a clamping position against said arm and for further swinging of said member 15 t in the .same direction to a tripped positionA for causing I Y References Cifedin the .le of this patent said clamping portion to releaseesaid arm.; said member v Y being swingable in said given direction by thrust applied UNITED .STATES PATENTS thereto yby one of said Wall portions; and spring means 349,647 Gumpel Sept. 21, 1886 effective on said member to resist the movement of said 5 1,57 1,5109 Connolly Feb. 2, 1926 clamping portion to said clamping position tand vto assist 1,702,819 Draver Feb. 19, 1929 the movement of said member to said tripped position. 1,854,386 Werth 1 Apr. 19, 1932 

